Teaming up to Help those who help us

“People want to walk for specific causes, so what if we allow teams of people to enter?” was one of Carey’s best suggestions of last year.

The concept was a winner as soon as it left his lips. In an instant we realised that teams were a way people could take part in The Kiltwalk, raising money for Scotland’s favourite Children’s Charities, and raise much needed funds for children’s causes that resonate with them.

We knew it would be a winner, however we have been totally blown away by the number of teams that have taken part. Hampden alone had over 80 teams sign up, which was beyond our dreams and next year we can see the numbers increasing even further.

Craig McFie, pictured above second from left, found out about the Kiltwalk through Yorkhill Hospital. His son, Logan, spent the first 9 weeks of his life in Yorkhill back in 2010, as he was born with Hirschsprung's disease, a rare disorder of the bowel, which can lead to severe intestinal obstruction.

Like many families who have relied on the wonderful care provided by Yorkhill, the McFie’s decided to fund raise for Yorkhill, which started as a one off and has now become something they get great pleasure from doing.

So signing up for the Kiltwalk became a no brainer for Craig, a Watch Commander at Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. When he then read about the team setup, he enlisted some colleaguesto create a team, which meant they would not only help raise more money for Yorkhill and the other partner charities, they would also be able to raise money for another charity close to their hearts, the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service Family Support Trust.

The SFRS Family Support Trust exists to provide financial and other support services to serving and retired members of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service when their families require assistance.

It supports children through the Children’s Investment Trusts and Hardship grants. As an example, if a serving employee loses their partner or spouse or they themselves die in service, the charity invests a sum of money, in the CIT, for each child in the family, which is then paid out directly to the young person, on maturity, around their 18th Birthday, to assist their future lives e.g. work, education, personal development etc.

Last year the CIT paid out approx. £14,000 to help young people who had suffered parental loss.

Serving and Retired employees can also apply to the Hardship Fund to help with the costs of looking after their own children or grandchildren, if there are family difficulties. For example they can help out with childhood illness / hospital costs, or children’s funeral costs etc.

Last year they paid out grants in the region £13,000 to assist families with similar situations to above.

Craig’s team consisted of Brenda Gillan, Louise Chalmers, Jennifer Carmichael, Fiona McNeil, Iain Malcolmson, Eddie Gray, George McGrandles, Gregor McPherson and Angela Murphy (who replaced Jacqui MacDonald who broke her ankle 2 weeks before the walk). They raiseda fantastic £2,200 in total, with half going to the SFRS Family Support Trust.

As much as everyone struggled to move, let alone walk the following few days, they all enjoyed their first ever Kiltwalk and can’t wait for 27th April 2014.

You know what Craig? Neither can we.